Disability discrimination at its 'finest' :(

[Marc]

Thinking about my local gym, gravel car park, couple of steps up to the gym - bit of a chicken and egg but they could spend thousands on fixing that and not get any added custom as a result!

Again, I'm talking about a ramp. Firstly, it wouldn't cost thousands. Secondly, a lot of wheelchair users use gyms, so there is a very good chance of extra custom.

 

[Clive K]

My wife worked for a veterinary practice with 7 or 8 branches. By EU law the firm had to install hearing loops and ramps for disability access at his own expense. A few years later he asked the receptionists how much use they were getting. Turns out that nobody could remember ever turning on the hearing loop and the ramps had not been used in most of the surgeries.

 

[Box Brownie]

My wife worked for a veterinary practice with 7 or 8 branches. By EU law the firm had to install hearing loops and ramps for disability access at his own expense. A few years later he asked the receptionists how much use they were getting. Turns out that nobody could remember ever turning on the hearing loop and the ramps had not been used in most of the surgeries.

I suppose/surmise by provisioning to accommodate those disabled by mobility issues and/or hearing loss is in many to cater for a smaller population & demographic.

If the view that such provisions are too little used is that potentially equally about such premises not actively promoting themselves as accessible? Afteral pet ownership is not limited to the able bodied!

It could be said, based on limited use/demand, that disabled parking bays get little use so why cannot the non blue badge disabled park there? Perhaps that is raisin d'etre of those inconsiderate enough to do so

 

[Clive K]

I suppose/surmise by provisioning to accommodate those disabled by mobility issues and/or hearing loss is in many to cater for a smaller population & demographic.

If the view that such provisions are too little used is that potentially equally about such premises not actively promoting themselves as accessible? Afteral pet ownership is not limited to the able bodied!

It could be said, based on limited use/demand, that disabled parking bays get little use so why cannot the non blue badge disabled park there? Perhaps that is raisin d'etre of those inconsiderate enough to do so

People take their pets to a vet for other reasons than the sugery having a hearing loop or ramp access. All surgeries had to install them so I don't really see your point.

 

[Pound Coin]

My wife worked for a veterinary practice with 7 or 8 branches. By EU law the firm had to install hearing loops and ramps for disability access at his own expense. A few years later he asked the receptionists how much use they were getting. Turns out that nobody could remember ever turning on the hearing loop and the ramps had not been used in most of the surgeries.

Which just helps demonstrate how marginalised disabled people are. Like the blind person I mention upthread, who hardly goes out because of the vile attitudes towards him and his Assistance Dog.

There is usually more going on than just what people see from their own perspective. It’s fine to have an ‘own perspective’ but not so much too project it onto everyone else.

 

[Box Brownie]

People take their pets to a vet for other reasons than the sugery having a hearing loop or ramp access. All surgeries had to install them so I don't really see your point.

Well, the information you posted I saw as inferring that that particular veterinary group saw the expenditure not having enough RoI to have justified the cost involved.

As such and seeing as I was in a B2B sales role for decades, I 'saw' that as a lost opportunity to improve customer potential and add to the bottom line.

 

[Clive K]

Which just helps demonstrate how marginalised disabled people are. Like the blind person I mention upthread, who hardly goes out because of the vile attitudes towards him and his Assistance Dog.

There is usually more going on than just what people see from their own perspective. It’s fine to have an ‘own perspective’ but not so much too project it onto everyone else.

That's a very sweeping statement. I know and have known many disabled people who just get on with their lives.

 

[Clive K]

Well, the information you posted I saw as inferring that that particular veterinary group saw the expenditure not having enough RoI to have justified the cost involved.

As such and seeing as I was in a B2B sales role for decades, I 'saw' that as a lost opportunity to improve customer potential and add to the bottom line.

The expenditure was enforced to comply with the law. I cannot see how advertising of the installation could bring in more clients given that all their competitors also had to fit the aids. The fact that the hearing loops were not used indicates that there was no real need for them. But it will have kept people in jobs dreaming up new schemes to justify their wages.

 

[gman]

Oh no, I just remembered a blind dog joke by Billy Connolly....

 

[munch]

It all gets a bit chicken and egg. We have disabled people rightly complaining about the lack of access on public transport. So are less likely to use it. Which in turn means they don't get to the places that have "adapted" to accommodate them. The whole thing is not consistent, and then added to that the number of times we have been out and seen disabled lifts that are "out of action"
As an example we went to have a look around St. David's Cathedral in Wales. There is one car park that has level access but only limited disabled parking. The disabled lift to the Refractory (about 15 steps) was not in use and hadn't been for over a week. There was no other way to get there. If I was disabled and was often faced with instances like that I think I would question if it was worth going out.

 

[Pound Coin]

It all gets a bit chicken and egg. We have disabled people rightly complaining about the lack of access on public transport. So are less likely to use it. Which in turn means they don't get to the places that have "adapted" to accommodate them. The whole thing is not consistent, and then added to that the number of times we have been out and seen disabled lifts that are "out of action"
As an example we went to have a look around St. David's Cathedral in Wales. There is one car park that has level access but only limited disabled parking. The disabled lift to the Refractory (about 15 steps) was not in use and hadn't been for over a week. There was no other way to get to the there. If I was disabled and was often faced with instances like that I think I would question if it was worth going out.

Exactly.

 

[Pound Coin]

That's a very sweeping statement. I know and have known many disabled people who just get on with their lives.

Your perspective.

 

[Clive K]

Nobody is not going to buy a dog because there is no hearing loop at the vets. Get real.

 

[munch]

That's a very sweeping statement. I know and have known many disabled people who just get on with their lives.

And I know many who feel housebound.

 

[Pound Coin]

Nobody is not going to buy a dog because there is no hearing loop at the vets. Get real.

Focussing on hearing loops is missing the point.

Besides, modern hearing aids have less need for them.

 

[Clive K]

Focussing on hearing loops is missing the point.

Besides, modern hearing aids have less need for them.

The point made was that if the vets advertised that they had the hearing loop in their premises they would attract more business from deaf people. Firstly people don't avoid buying pets because they aren't comfortable taking them to the vets. Secondly, as every vet practice has the same equipment fitted they aren't going to gain any advantage over their rivals so it would be more wasted money.

 

[Pound Coin]

The point made was that if the vets advertised that they had the hearing loop in their premises they would attract more business from deaf people. Firstly people don't avoid buying pets because they aren't comfortable taking them to the vets. Secondly, as every vet practice has the same equipment fitted they aren't going to gain any advantage over their rivals so it would be more wasted money.

It is only wasted money if you think of it from the perspective of the non-disabled.

 

[Clive K]

It is only wasted money if you think of it from the perspective of the non-disabled.

The equipment wasn't used so it was obviously wasted money.

 

[Pound Coin]

The equipment wasn't used so it was obviously wasted money.

I’d be astonished if there were not other things that a vet practice bought that ‘wasted money’.

 

[Clive K]

I’d be astonished if there were not other things that a vet practice bought that ‘wasted money’.

Yes, there are. But that doesn't make your opinion right on this matter.

 

[Pound Coin]

Yes, there are. But that doesn't make your opinion right on this matter.

You say that whilst putting “obviously” in as a descriptor

 

[Mr Bump]

Church tower which has 200 narrow windy stone steps? Cannot be done. Something like John Lennons house (if you can visit)?

Its also probably down to cost too - a single story building maybe a ramp is not too much or that difficult, but a multi story building would be a lot harder and probably prohibitive.

Thinking about my local gym, gravel car park, couple of steps up to the gym - bit of a chicken and egg but they could spend thousands on fixing that and not get any added custom as a result!

I think the majority of wheelchair/disabled users are not that interested in the 200 steps to the bell tower
just getting in to public buildings and bars, restaurants is a big step I completely get what @Marc is saying
i recently had my wife in a wheelchair for a week and then on crutches for 5 as she recovered from knee surgery and
it was a f*****g nightmare

 

[Marc]

I think the majority of wheelchair/disabled users are not that interested in the 200 steps to the bell tower
just getting in to public buildings and bars, restaurants is a big step I completely get what @Marc is saying
i recently had my wife in a wheelchair for a week and then on crutches for 5 as she recovered from knee surgery and
it was a f*****g nightmare

Exactly. Unless you (or your family) have spent time in a wheelchair, you haven't a clue.

 

[munch]

Exactly. Unless you (or your family) have spent time in a wheelchair, you haven't a clue.

When you are friends with this lady, believe me you have a clue.
https://www.emilyroseyates.co.uk/

She told me off when she was about 14 and she came to ours for a sleepover, I had made the bed up for her upstairs where our toilet is. I was told in no uncertain terms she was going to sleep downstairs with everybody else (about 8 teenagers sleeping in our rather small living room) and would bum shuffle up the stairs when she needed the toilet. So that is what she did.

 

[gman]

Exactly. Unless you (or your family) have spent time in a wheelchair, you haven't a clue.

The closest I've been is in double crutches for three months after a bad motorcycle accident did a number on my tendons. It happened whilst I still lived in East London and whilst I was prepared for the anticipated mobility problems the unexpected part was the feeling of vulnerability from attack when venturing out on my own. It was not a nice feeling.

 

[Marc]

The closest I've been is in double crutches for three months after a bad motorcycle accident did a number on my tendons. It happened whilst I still lived in East London and whilst I was prepared for the anticipated mobility problems the unexpected part was the feeling of vulnerability from attack when venturing out on my own. It was not a nice feeling.

I was on crutches after breaking my leg playing football 25 years ago. I also progressed from limping to a walking stick to crutches, finally into a wheelchair 8 years ago. What I wouldn't give to go back to crutches*



*Not a dig btw, it's all a matter of perspective.

 

[DemiLion]

What I wouldn't give to go back to crutches*

Nah. You're too used to sitting on your shiny arse by now!!